USPTO Patents Application 08873597

Application No. 08/873,597
Filed June 12, 1997

AMENDMENT TO THE CLAIMS

This listing of claims replaces all prior versions and listings of all claims in the
application:

Claims 1-18, (Canceled)

1 9. (Previously presented) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising;

a) a test chamber comprising a First and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises:

i. a single stranded nucleic acid covalently attached to said electrode via an
insulator, wherein said insulator is an alkyl oligomer wherein each monomer of
said alkyl oligomer is independently selected from the group consisting of: -
(CH 2 )„-, -(CRH),,-, -(CR2) n -, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives
using other heteroatoms in place of oxygen; wherein n is from 1 to 16; and
wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl alcohol,
aromatic amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties,
halogens, sulfur containing moieties, phosphorous containing moieties, and

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said first and second electrodes.

20. (Previously presented) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises:

i. a covalently attached single stranded nucleic acid attached to said first
electrode via an insulator, wherein said insulator is an alkyl oligomer wherein
each monomer of said alkyl oligomer is independently selected from the group
consisting of: -(CH a ) B -, -(CRH)„-, -(CR2V, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol
derivatives using other heteroatoms in place of oxygen; wherein n is from 1 to
16; and wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,
alcohol, aromatic amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl. silicon
moieties, halogens, sulfur containing moieties, phosphorous containing moieties;

Application No. 08/873,597
Filed June 12, 1997

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

iii. a covalentiy attached first electron transfer moiety; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test chamber,

21 . (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26, further comprising: a
processor coupled to said electrodes.

22. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26. wherein said AC/DC
voltage source is capable of delivering frequenc ies from between about 1 Hz to about 1 00
kHz.

Claims 23-25. (Canceled)

26. (Previously presented) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising a first and a second electrode, wherein said first electrode
comprises:

i. a covalentiy attached first single stranded nucleic acid attached to said first
electrode via an insulator, wherein said insulator is an alkyl oligomer wherein
each monomer of said alkyl oligomer is independently selected from the group
consisting of; -<CH 2 ) n -, -(CRH)„-, -(CR2), r , ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol
derivatives using other heteroatoms in place of oxygen; wherein n is from 1 to
16; and wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,
alcohol, aromatic amino, amido, nitro. ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon
moieties, halogens, sulfur containing moieties, phosphorous containing moieties;
and

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

b) a second nucleic acid covalentiy attached to an electron transfer moiety; and

c) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test chamber.

Claims 27-32. (Canceled)

33. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises conductive oligomers.

3

Application No. 08/873,597
Filed June 12, 1997

34. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 1 9. 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises insulators.

35. (Previously presented) An apparatus for the detection of target nucleic acids in a test sample,
comprising:

a) a test chamber comprising an array of electrodes, each electrode comprising

i. a covalently attached single stranded nucleic acid, attached to said electrodes
via an insulator, wherein said insulator is an alky I oligomer wherein each
monomer of said alkyl oligomer is independently selected from the group
consisting of: -iCH 2 ) n -, -(CRH)„-, <CR2)„-, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol
derivatives using other heteroatoms in place of oxygen; wherein n is from 1 to
16; and wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl,
alcohol, aromatic amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters, aldehydes, sulfonyi, silicon
moieties, halogens, sulfur containing moieties, phosphorous containing moieties;
and

ii. a passivation agent monolayer; and

b) an AC/DC voltage source electrically connected to said test chamber.

Claims 36-38. (Canceled)

39. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said passivation agent
monolayer comprises conductive oligomers.

40. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said passivation agent
monolayer comprises insulators.

41 . (Previously presented) An apparatus accordingly to claim 19 further comprising,

c) a second nucleic acid covalently attached to an electron transfer moiety.

42. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises alkyl chains.

43. (Previously presented) An apparatus according claim 42 wherein said alkyl chains have the
formula C n H x , where n is 1 to 30, and x is 2(n).

44. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises terminal groups chosen from the group consisting of

Application No. 08/873,597
Filed June 12, 1997

"(CH 2 ) n - s -(CRH) n -„ -(CR2)„-, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol derivatives using other
heteroatoms in place of oxygen; wherein n is from 1 to 16, and wherein R is selected from the
group consisting of hydrogen, alky L alcohol, aromatic amino, amido, nitro, ethers, esters,
aldehydes, sulfonyl, silicon moieties, halogens, sulfur containing moieties, phosphorous
containing moieties, and ethylene glycol moieties,

45. (Previously presented) An apparatus according to claims 19, 20 or 26 wherein said
passivation agent monolayer comprises both conductive oligomers and insulators.